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1Stbalbach
User FiveBooks has posted over 400 reviews. Some of them don't provide any real review content but simply link to a for-pay only website http://thebrowser.com which costs $34 to access. Others link to http://fivebooks.com which is free.
Example review:
https://www.librarything.com/work/70648/reviews/57312499
The dates when reviews were posted are from a short period of time in 2010:
https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=FiveBooks
It seems like an obvious spam campaign and unclear if the poster actually read the books. They can be flagged (many have been), but would there be any support to delete the reviews from the db?
Example review:
https://www.librarything.com/work/70648/reviews/57312499
The dates when reviews were posted are from a short period of time in 2010:
https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=FiveBooks
It seems like an obvious spam campaign and unclear if the poster actually read the books. They can be flagged (many have been), but would there be any support to delete the reviews from the db?
2rosalita
Looking at their profile, it's an organizational rather than personal account:
"At FiveBooks, we interview authors, experts and public figures, and we invite them to recommend the best reading on particular topics."
Having said that, and knowing that the LT definition of review is extremely broad, reviews that consist only of a link to a paid third-party site seem to fall even outside what LT would consider an acceptable review. I'm prepared to be told I'm wrong about that, though.
"At FiveBooks, we interview authors, experts and public figures, and we invite them to recommend the best reading on particular topics."
Having said that, and knowing that the LT definition of review is extremely broad, reviews that consist only of a link to a paid third-party site seem to fall even outside what LT would consider an acceptable review. I'm prepared to be told I'm wrong about that, though.
3lilithcat
Is that the user's website? Because, if it is, a link to the reviews there is allowed.
It's stupid, because if you actually want your reviews read, why charge $34? But it's not a TOS violation.
As to deleting them from the database, that won't happen. What you put in the "review" section of your catalog is your business. Even clear non-reviews such as "$4.00" are not removed. Hidden, yes; removed, no.
It's stupid, because if you actually want your reviews read, why charge $34? But it's not a TOS violation.
As to deleting them from the database, that won't happen. What you put in the "review" section of your catalog is your business. Even clear non-reviews such as "$4.00" are not removed. Hidden, yes; removed, no.
4rosalita
The About page at thebrowser.com says: "The Browser has been publishing daily since late 2008 (the exact date of birth has been lost in our CMS). Each day we recommend 5-6 pieces of reading that we think are worth your valuable time, plus the occasional video and quotable quote. Over the years, we’ve built up an archive of almost 20,000 recommendations, which is searchable on our site by subscribers." The About note is signed by the site editor, Robert Cottrell, and there is a list of other staff. The "registered address" for the site is The Browser, Suite 11, 88-90 Hatton Garden.
The other account mentioned in the OP as being linked in some reviews is fivebooks.com, which is not a paid site. The staff list on that site shares no names with the other, except Julia Terentyeva, who is listed as Secretary on thebrowser.com and Administrator on fivebooks.com. The "registered address" for the site is 2nd Floor, 18 Henrietta St, London, WC2E 8QH.
Someone else can figure out what it all means from here. I need to go lie down in a dark room.
The other account mentioned in the OP as being linked in some reviews is fivebooks.com, which is not a paid site. The staff list on that site shares no names with the other, except Julia Terentyeva, who is listed as Secretary on thebrowser.com and Administrator on fivebooks.com. The "registered address" for the site is 2nd Floor, 18 Henrietta St, London, WC2E 8QH.
Someone else can figure out what it all means from here. I need to go lie down in a dark room.
